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Death Toll Increases to 24 in Cambodia Building Collapse

Reuters

   PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - The death toll has risen to at least 24 and 23
   more people are listed as injured in the collapse of a buildingin
   Cambodiathat trapped workers under rubble, officials said Sunday.

   The seven-story concrete building collapsed Friday inthe coastal town
   ofKep, about 160 km (100 miles) southwest ofPhnom Penh.Itoccurreda year
   after another construction site collapsed,
   killing 28 people in Preah Sihanouk province.

   "Twenty-four people have died so far,"KepGovernor KenSatha told
   Reuters. "Three of the bodies are not yet athospital. They have not
   been pulled out yet."

   An unknown number of workers remained trapped, Satha said,
   adding that authorities had detained a Cambodian couple, the
   owners of the building, for questioning.

   Prime Minister Hun Sen said Saturday that rescuers werestill struggling
   to reach those missing in the rubble.

   Cambodia is undergoing a construction boom to serve growing
   crowds of Chinese tourists and investors.

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